In its second year, Racing SA’s Sportsbet Finals Day at Morphettville saw the culmination of eight weeks of heats climaxing in a day of racing worth more than $1 million.
Nunes in control in Country Sprint Final
Favourite backers applauded as Coeur De Lyon ($2.25) ran out the 1200-metres of the $65,000 Country Sprint Final despite being slower away from the barriers than trainer Tom Dabernig expected.
Leading all the way two starts back at Bendigo played to the six-year-old gelding's advantage and attempting to do the same last start at Moonee Valley saw him narrowly beaten.
This time, former Singapore jockey and recent South Australian recruit Manoel Nunes had few concerns in the run despite Coeur De Lyon being tardy from the gates.
"He jumped a bit slow but after a few strides he put himself there and I let the other horse (Nasho) take the lead but my horse was travelling comfortably all the way through," Nunes said.
"As soon as the other horse passed me I got second position and, to me, he was travelling very well. I was under control the whole way."
Karavas returns the winning form
Richard Jolly was unsure where to look in the run to the line as he and training partner Chantelle's three runners in the Rebel Raider Series Final (1200m) each made a winning pitch in the Morphettville straight with Karavas ($5.50) being the one to break a 412 day drought.
After finishing outside of the placings at Flemington in the Group 2 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, three-year-old filly stormed home late from the rear of the field to notch her second win in her seven-start career.
Much had been expected of Karavas after her winning debut as a two-year-old since in 2023, more wins have eluded her despite racing so consistently in group racing company.
"That is one that got away and we'll never get back," Richard Jolly said of the Melbourne outing.
"She hasn't won a stakes race yet, but she has been stakes and Group 3 placed.
"We just need to get that listed win for her. She's always been a nice filly, shown good ability and it is good to see her do what she did today."
The Jolly's decision to remove the blinkers for this run made all the difference to Karavas along with a change of tactic in the run.
"I just felt that they weren't going much for her and getting back to 1200, we wanted to ride her a bit quieter and get her to finish off which worked," Jolly added.
Merchant Boss wins Mile Final… just
As far as connections are concerned, Merchant Boss ($4.60) is yet to reach this potential on the track like he shows in his work at home, but victory in the Country Mile Final (1600m) is worthy enough of celebration.
The five-year-old looked the winner from the top of the straight but the mile nearly proved his undoing as the Jamie Opperman-trained West Cliff made a late surge to narrowly miss by a half-head margin.
"The mile just sees him out," trainer Travis Doudle said.
"He can get it, but he is probably better over 1400 or 1500-metres. We thought with this race series as it is, we could target it so we took him down to Mt Gambier and got him into the final.
Winning jockey Ben Price agreed.
"I feel like I should have won four or five on him," Price said.
"The feeling that he gives you at trackwork (is) that he should be a serious horse and we always say that he doesn't bring his work at home to the races."
Merchant Boss notched his second career win in 13 starts.
Daring tactics all the plan for Theodore and Opperman
Divine Fire's victory in the Restricted Series Final (1800m) was an emotional one for former Victorian and now Murray Bridge-based trainer Stephen Theodore.
It was just about winning a race on Finals Day, it was the feeling of success in what has not been an easy task in establishing his new set-up.
"It is still hard to start a business from ground zero, especially in South Australia because we're a forgotten state a little bit, at times," Theodore said.
"The owners have been mates of mine well before I trained for them and to give the horses to me, I appreciate it.
"It is a hard game and we devised this plan about five runs ago. We decided to run her over 2000-metres and I said that once we can confirm we can run 2000, we can win an 1800-metre race."
That plan was for jockey Jacob Opperman to set Divine Fire alight before the home turn and it was a tactic that won the race.
"From the outside barrier I said to Jacob 'don't rush it, find your spot, have an economical run and then just let her rip," Theodore added.
"We're 13 runs into the prep and she's flying. We spaced the last couple of runs (so) we were confident but you also need luck. We made our own luck today.
Divine Fire ($11) scored by 2¼-lengths over the Kayla Crowther steered Eventually ($3.20) with Mr Trafficanti ($19) in third.
Sir Sway defies breeding to win Gytrash Final
His mother was a one-win mare over the unlikely distance of 2000-metres.
That is unlikely because her progeny in Sir Sway has taken a liking to the sprint trips and his victory in the Gytrash Final (1200m) took his record to seven wins plus two minor placings in 13 starts.
A homebred by trainers Sue and Jason Jaensch, the mare Silent Sway – by Commands – won her only race in a maiden event so it holds even more significance for the training pair to take out a $105,000 race with such an unusual type.
"He's decided that if he wants to be a racehorse he wants to be a sprinter," Jason said.
With others taking the conservative option, jockey Lachlan Neindorf took action into his own hands.
I really thought Jacks On Ice was definitely the leader on paper and it didn't pan out that way. I looked inside and everyone was indecisive.
"I went, 'right then I'll take it up'. Even though my fella has been questionable running out the 1200, I thought with everyone else with the hand brake on, he got the lead and had it easy enough."
An eye to the Cups for Skybeau winner
Co-trainers Shayne and Chelsea Cahill celebrated their most significant race victory to-date when topweight Tippa took out the Skybeau Final for stayers over 2500-metres.
Though in the market at $6, Tippa outgunned his rivals to win the $105,000 race and put three wins in success together with the build up over 2014-metres in October, then over 2250-metres earlier this month.
"He's a progressive horse and he seems to be getting better every time he goes around. Things could not have worked out any better," Shayne said of the 1½-length win over Sandastan ($41).
It was a significant victory for rising apprentice Rochelle Milnes.
"This is pretty amazing and hard not to get emotional," Milnes said.
"I couldn't thank Shayne enough.
"The horse has a (two-kilo) claim but he really doesn't need one. Shayne and Chelsea are such a great team.
"I know what it means to these people and that makes it special.'
The Cahill's may looks to feature Cups across the border should Tippa continue to progress.
The disappointment of the race was $2.60 favourite Big Story who weakened out of contention in the straight to finish 12th in the field of 13.
Jack The Lad on Happy Trails
Jack The Lad ($6) continued the run of good buys on Inglis Digital sales as the $30,000 purchase in 2022 has since rewarded trainers Wayne Francis and Glen Kent collecting more than $300,000 in prizemoney.
His win in the Happy Trials Series Final (1600m) helped that tally along after a venture to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day delivered a fifth placing over 1400-metres.
"You get lucky buying some horses online, but you don't get them like him. He's an absolute gentleman," Wayne said.
"Joe Bowditch just messaged me saying 'good on ya mate' - he rode him at Flemington.
"If he knew he kept building on his run he would have pushed out earlier at Flemington. Jake and I talked about that before and you could see Jake was ready to get on his bike and get going."
Jack The Lad provided one of South Australia's leading jockeys his sole winner on this edition of Finals Day.
By I Am Invincible, Jack The Lad was originally bought at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in 2002 for $575,000.
Cararada gives Milnes her double
Luck may come into it, but Rochelle Milnes obviously puts the hard work in with her horses and together with her conscientious attitude with trainers, Cararada helped her achieve an early career highlight with a riding double on Finals Day.
Describing the five-year-old are as cheeky, Milnes continued her thanks for the stables she has been associated with – including John Hyam here.
"I'm really lucky. Really thankful, Milnes said.
"John has just has been an excellent supporter of me and this horse, we've had some success together. She's cheeky and I'm glad I know her."
Hyam had to change tactics with the mare after being scratched at the barriers last start.
"She gave her head a bit of a knock and they scratched her behind the gates," he said.
That was 1400 (metres) and the plan was to go 1400 to 1600 but we had to freshen her up for the 1200 today.
"I was a bit worried before the race, I thought she may be looking for further.
"I thought we would be dour and would need the 1600. I'm happy to be wrong sometimes."
Howl breaks a long drought in Riziz Final
538 days isn't usually a good look in the form guide but Howl ($19) cared nothing for that when taking out the Riziz Final for colts, geldings and entires over 1200-metres and ridden by Justin Potter.
"He's probably not every jockey's favourite horse," trainer David Jolly said.
"I said to him (Potter), 'do not touch him early and if you're a couple of lengths back then what you think you should be, you'll make up the ground'."
Experience counts so often in training and riding horses and Jolly recognised Potter's experience with Howl's family line who were bred by the late Brian Meuller.
"He knows them well," Jolly added.
"He's a different type of horse. I've ridden quite a few of that bloodline and breed," Potter agreed.
"David said 'don't poke the bear' and I didn't poke him (and) he gave me a lovely ride."
